Florida GOP Losing Grip on Reality - One GOP bill: "Public school teachers could opt out of joining a union and instead accept a salary set by the Legislature under a constitutional amendment being considered by the House." In another: "House Republicans are moving forward with a plan that would divert $10 million to help children of soldiers and veterans go to private schools."
Governor Rejects Reconsideration of Sales Exemptions Proposed By Conservative Tax Watch -According to the conservative business group Tax Watch, "Lawmakers should cut costs, seek more federal grants and consider the elimination of more than $1 billion in sales tax exemptions, Florida TaxWatch said Monday. . . . the Legislature should review tax exemptions that don't stimulate the economy or shelter the basics of life, the group recommended. Its committees of business executives found more than 100 exemptions worth nearly $1.3 billion that might not be warranted, it said."
To no one's surprise, the Tampa Trib reports, "House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, and Gov. Jeb Bush weren't buying it."
Poor Jacksonville - The Florida Times Union is off the charts. Consider this laugher in an editorial today: "To date, the Democrats have been against virtually everything the Republican governor has proposed as a means of balancing the state budget. Yet, they have offered no alternate solutions". Perhaps the editors ought to read this about the absence of democracy in the Florida House.
And how about this howler in the same editorial: "the heavy lifting already has been done for them. Gov. Jeb Bush, aided by the legislative majority, has established priorities and followed them, enabling the Legislature to provide substantial tax relief in Florida while improving services."
Fortunately, Ron Littlepage's columns provide a little relief; in this column today Littlepage points out the comical efforts of John Peyton, the wealthy Republican candidate for mayor, to portray himself as a working man.
Lightweight Martinez Weighs In On Estrada - In a pathetic attempt to inject ethnic bias into Senator Graham's courageous position on Estada, our (gratuitously appointed) HUD Secretary, an empty suit if there ever was one, has this to offer in the Orlando Sentinel today.
Wishful Thinking - We think the Palm Beach Post is expecting a bit much of the Florida GOP in asking Tallahassee to "Ban slavery on farms". Recall that years ago Steve Pajcic was assailed for actually proposing that the Legislature (in Dem hands at the time) pass legislation implementing Florida's constitutional right to bargain (without such implementing legislation, the constitutional right - which is not self executing - is meaningless); Pajcic of course got nowhere. The Post editorial , in support of rrelatively mundane protective legislation, that is far less reaching than collective bargaining rights for farmworkers, puts it bluntly: "it time to take a brave stand against slavery".
Can King Hold the Line? The "Malpractice insurance legislation debate starts" today in the Byrd House. Caps are a virtual guarantee to come out of the House; the question is whether King can hold the line in the Senate.
Sanchez and Iorio - Bill Marchman on the Tampa race.
Florida House Proposes Bogus Teacher Pay Bill - The House GOP is set to propose a statewide teachers' salary minimum of $31,000. The proposal is DOA, as it should be.
Brace Yourself - 2004 is just around the corner. And "[e]lection officials in Florida's two largest counties will be asking for dozens more employees and multimillion-dollar budget increases as they begin preparations for the 2004 presidential primary." Story. 6:01 AM
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